Music maestro ... Martin Scorsese is making a trio of films about his favourite artists. Photograph: Claudio Onorati/EPA

Martin Scorsese's documentary on the Rolling Stones has been selected to open this year's Berlin international film festival.

Shine a Light is a concert film, shot at New York's Beacon theatre in August 2006 and interspersed with archive footage from the band's 60s and 70s heyday. "Scorsese has created an extraordinary musical film event and gives audiences unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones, both on stage and off," the festival organisers said in a statement.

Shine a Light is the centrepiece of a trio of music documentaries from the Oscar-winning director, following on from his acclaimed Bob Dylan picture No Direction Home. Next up is a portrait of the late Beatle George Harrison.

Scorsese is also preparing his next dramatic feature. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, Shutter Island is a 50s-set thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams.

Shine a Light opens in the UK on April 11. Shutter Island is set for a 2009 release date.